Report by Suchismita Sahoo; Bhubaneswar: Government intensified efforts for promotion of food processing units in the State. The State Level Empowered Committee ( SLEC) Meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra today in secretariat conference hall has decided a number of measures to be followed up in this direction.

Secretary MS&ME Sri Panchanan Dash outlined the issues for discussions and put forth new project proposals for considerations the committee. Chief Secretary has also directed to form a state level steering committee on food processing under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Agriculture for coordination among different departments and agencies involved in implementation of Food Processing policy of Government of Odisha as well as the National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP).

The departments like Horticulture, BMC,OMFED, APICOL , Employment Technical education & Training who are mostly implementing the food processing policies will brought under one umbrella for more focus and facilitation. The committee will look in to the implementation of food processing units, promote more investment in this sector and will suggest measure to be taken both at policy and implementation level for expediting the projects.

The meeting today mostly discussed about the provisions and guidelines provided for implementation of the projects under NMFP. Chief Secretary has advised Horticulture departments to take up promotional activities, collection centers, technology upgradation works under the scheme. BMC has been advised to take up modernization of at leat 50 meat shops both from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar under the scheme. It has been decided in the meeting that upgradation of infrastructure in 2 Govt. technical institutions will be taken up under the scheme.

The committee has approved 5 food processing units involving total investment of Rs24.60 cr. proposed to be set up in the districts like Balasore, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj and Jajpur. The committee has also considered other 4 projects of agro-diversification, food processing, and modernization of existing units which envisages a total investment of around Rs.35 Cr. These 4 projects have been put to technical and feasibility scrutiny after which it will come to SLEC for approval. Chief Secretary has directed MS&ME department to expedite the process and clear up the permissible projects quickly. Available data shows a total fund of Rs924 lakhs have been released for promotion of micro medium and small enterprises during 2012-13. This includes the central share of 75% and state share of 25%. Budgetary provision for another Rs712 lakhs has been made for 2013-14.

Chief Secretary has directed the concern departments to work out convergence up state subsidy programmes with subsidy provision of NMFP so that the prospective entrepreneurs can be provided with more assistance. Mohapatra has directed to utilize various provisions of food processing of policies and scale of performance in this sector.